Paper long abstract:

The Church has converted African peoples but not yet African cultures. The Church in Busoga, Uganda, is a case that illustrates this challenge. Authentic Christianity is lacking. By this I mean, where Christians engage in redeeming and using their culture in the service of the Gospel in theology, worship and ministry with evidence that transformation, change and fulfillment of peoples' lives in Christ is a reality and inspiration to others and not merely a dream. Only in 2000 did the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) initiate a serious inculturation programme. Since then the RCC use a Lusoga liturgy. But the Anglican Church of Uganda (COU) has not woken up to this challenge. Their public worship is done in Luganda, and so the Church continues to be in Babylonian captivity of foreign Luganda language which the missionaries who evangelized Busoga first used in 1891. After analysing the historical, psychological, and social problems which hinder rooting the Church in the people's cultural milieu in Busoga, I conclude by suggesting the need to disciple and nurture mature Basoga Christians in local churches. These would be Christians who are truly Basoga and truly Christian - who have evangelized and converted their own culture to be a vehicle of serving the Gospel in their Church and society.